PY435-5-SU-CO:
Texts in the Philosophy of Religion
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Summer
Undergraduate: Level 5
Inactive
Monday 22 April 2024
Friday 28 June 2024
15
04 July 2019
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
In this module we will study the work of Augustine (354-430 BC), Bishop of Hippo. We shall focus on two texts, the Enchiridion on Faith, Hope and Love and the Confessions, with a view to a) understanding Augustine's thought better and b) teasing out his interpretation of the three 'theological' virtues, namely faith, hope and love.
What makes these virtues different from the Greek 'cardinal' virtues (justice, prudence, temperance and courage) is that neither their possession nor their exercise depend fully on us: we cannot will ourselves to have faith, to hope or to love. But if this is so, how can they be deemed theological virtues? How can I be praised for having faith, hoping or loving if whether I have faith, hope or love is not up to me?
Further, how should faith, hope and love be understood in the context of Augustine' life and works, namely early Christianity? Why are they theological virtues? What kind of relation to the divine do they require us to have? And can they be of any help to the non-believer, or to practitioners of other religions?
We shall seek to answer these questions both from the perspective of a believer like Augustine and from that of non religious persons, thus testing the limits of Augustine's psychology against those of his theology.
This module will enable the students to:
Acquire detailed knowledge of both the Enchiridion on Faith, Hope and Love, and of the Confessions;
Have a better comprehension of the theological virtues and what makes them distinctive;
Develop their understanding of religious thinking and whether/how it may be of relevance outside of a religious context.
By the end of the module, students should also have acquired a set of transferable skills. In particular, they will:
Have developed the analytic and critical skills required for the close reading of philosophical/religious texts;
Be capable of reconstructing philosophical or religious arguments in their own words and to produce a constructive critique of such arguments;
Have improved their knowledge of how to structure a piece of writing and present it in the clearest and most relevant manner;
Have developed the ability to do some research on their own and to think by themselves, and in particular to build upon/revise any initial views they might have held;
Be sensitive to the positions of others, and capable of communicating their own views in ways that are interesting and accessible to most, ideally to all.
No additional information available.
* Week 1:
1h of lecture +
1h of work/discussion on related material +
1h seminar-style close reading +
2h of methodology for presentations and take home research papers and examples + assignment of presentations to each student for the module + non assessed exercises in class
= 5h
* Week 2:
1h of lecture +
1h of work/discussion on related material +
1h seminar-style close reading +
2h of assessed presentations
= 5h
* Week 3: same
* Week 4: same
Week 5: same + 2 extra hours of presentations so that there are slots for all students.
= 7h
NB: if student numbers are higher than expected then some of the seminar style close readings will be replaced by assessed presentations.
Assessment = 100% coursework broken down as follows:
* 1 standard length essay (2000-3000 words): 40%
* 1 take home research paper (2000 words max): 40%
* 1 solo presentation: 20%
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Beatrice Han-Pile, email: beatrice@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Beatrice Han-Pile
spahinfo@essex.ac.uk
No
No
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 27 hours, 27 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.